Coupling Low-Voltage Microgrids into Mid-Voltage Distribution Systems

Sponsor: General Electric Energy ($199,800 - April 2011 - March 2012)
Award No: 261313-31025-20
Principal Investigator: Y-F Huang, University of Notre Dame
Co-PI: M.D. Lemmon (Notre Dame), Thomas Pratt (Notre Dame),
Program Manager and POC: P. Murphy (Notre Dame)

ABSTRACT: The objective of this project is to develop a distributed approach for managing the coupling of LV microgrids to a MV distribution feeder in a way that addresses the voltage rise problem. The project will treat the problem as an optimization problem that controls reactive power flows and adjusts tap-changing transformers in a manner that avoids the voltage rise problem while staying within power flow constraints of the system. We propose solving the problem in a distributed manner, building on event- triggered distributed algorithms that were developed for distributed power dispatch within microgrids [Wan10]. The main deliverables for this project will be 1) a distributed management scheme for coupled microgrids, 2) simulated verification of the proposed scheme, 3) a recommendation regarding the most appropriate communication technologies for implementing the scheme, and 4) a recommendation regarding the role of distributed estimation in monitoring MV network power quality.

Distributed Reactive Control in Microgrids - Task 1

1. M. Lemmon, Kickoff Meeting Presentation, University of Notre Dame, April 7, 2011.
2. Z. Wang, M. Lemmon, Midterm Review, University of Notre Dame, October 21, 2011
3. Z. Wang, Algorithm Development Report, University of Notre Dame, January 31, 2012
4. Z. Wang, Final Review, University of Notre Dame, April 15, 2012